Slide structure

ABSTRACT

A slide structure comprising two channel members and two bar members, each bar member being telescopically longitudinally slidably received within a separate channel member, two of said members, of which at least one is a channel member being fixedly secured together to constitute an intermediate element, and the other two members being arranged respectively on opposite sides of the intermediate element and being longitudinally movable relative to the intermediate element and relative to each other.

United States Patent 1191 Fall 1 1 Jan. 23, 1973 [54] SLIDE STRUCTURE[75] Inventor: Maxwell S. Fall, Indianapolis, Ind. f Exam'rfer MfltonKaufman Assistant Exammer--Barry Grossman [73] Assigneez Herbert S.Fall, Indianapolis, Ind. Atmmey 'HOOd, Gust, Irish, Lundy & C ff [22]Filed: June 11, 1971 App]. No.: 152,257

[ 5 7 1 ABSTRACT A slide structure comprising two channel members andtwo bar members, each bar member being telescopically longitudinallyslidably received within a separate channel member, two of said members,of which at least one is a channel member being fixedly secured togetherto constitute an intermediate element, and the other two members beingarranged respectively on opposite sides of the intermediate element andbeing longitudinally movable relative to the intermediate element andrelative to each other.

6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEUJAHEB I975 3,712,690

PRIOR ART Fig.1

5s 48 4o 55 40 I k Mm 7 L111? FLY" "3 INVENTOR MAXWELL S. FALL ORNEYStion, the point of primary application of that bending moment has alwaysbeen a point of minimum strength within the slide structure to sustainthat moment. It is a primary object of the present invention, then, soto modify the known slide structure as to eliminate that weak spot inthe structure.

Further objects of the invention will appear as the descriptionproceeds.

To the accomplishment of the above and related ob jects, my inventionmay be embodied in the forms illustrated in the accompanying drawings,attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings areillustrative only, and that change may be made in the specificconstructions illustrated and described, so long as the scope of theappended claims is not violated.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an end view of a conventional, long-known slide structure ofthe general character here under consideration;

FIG. 2 is a similar view of a similar slide structure modified inaccordance with a preferred form of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the structure of FIG. 2 in extendedcondition, viewed from the left of FIG. 2 and drawn to a reduced scale;

FIG. 4' is an enlarged view similar to FIG. 2 and showing a modifiedform of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a view similar ,to FIG. 4 and illustrating a furthermodification; and

FIG.'6 is a view similar to'FIG. 2' and illustrating a.

still further modified form of the invention. Referring moreparticularly'to FIG. 1, I have shown a well-known and long-used form ofdrawer slide comprising inner and outer rails and an intermediate element retentively associated with both rails to permit relativelongitudinal movement only among the three major elements. The outerrail is a channel member formed with curled, parallel, longitudinallyextending lips I1 and 12' defining inwardlyfacing, laterally separatedtrackways I3 and 14 in each of which is received a series ofantifriction elements such as the balls 15 and 16. A second channelmember 17 having similar lips 18 and I9 definingtrackways 20 and 21similarly receives series 22 and 23 of antifriction elements. The railsor channel members 10 and 17 are substantially identical butallochirally arranged.

An intermediate element indicated generally by the reference numeral .24comprises a bar 25 formed to define longitudinal, outwardly openingtrackways 26 and 27 receiving the antifriction elements 15 and 16retentively to secure the channel 10 to the bar 25 for rela-' tivelongitudinal movementonly, and an identical, but allochirally arranged,bar28 fixedly secured to the bar 25 and providing outwardly openingtrackways 29 and 30 receiving the antifriction series 22 and 23retentively to secure the channel 17 to the bar 28 for relativelongitudinal movement only.

When the structure of FIG. I is fully extended, the

inboard ends of the channels I0 and 17 are somewhat separated so thatthe region between those channel ends consists solely of theintermediate element 24 which, because of the shape and size of the bars25 and 28, is less resistant to bending moments than are the channelmembers 10 and I7. According to the present invention, the severalmembers of the previously known slide structure are differently arrangedrelative to each other, whereby improved resistance to vertical bendingstresses is found to be conferred upon the assembly. Specifically, suchrearrangement of the parts must be such that atleast one of the channelmembers constitutes a part of the intermediate element of the slidestructure.

According to FIG. 2, a channel member has its opposite edges curled toprovide lips 41 and 42 defining trackways 43 and 44 in which areretentively received series 45 and 46 of antifriction elements. Intheembodiments of the invention herein illustrated, such antifrictionelements are ball bearings with which may be associated suitable cagestructures (not shown) for maintaining the integrity of each series ofantifriction elements.

A bar member 55 is telescopically received within the channel member 40and is formed to provide outwardlyopening trackways 56 and 57retentively engaging, respectively, the antifriction series 45 and theantifriction series 46. a

A second channel member 47 which may be identical with the channelmember 40 is fixedly secured to the bar 55 to constitute theintermediate element, indicated generally by the reference numeral 54,of the improved slide structure of the present invention. The channelmember 47 is formed at its lateral edges with parallel curled lips 48and 49 defining inwardly facing trackways 50 and 51 retentivelyreceiving antifriction element series 52 and 53. A second bar member 58,in all respects similar to the bar 55, is formed to provideoutwardly-opening trackways 59 and 60 for retentively receiving theantifriction series 52 and 53.

Thus, the intermediate element 54 is retentively secured to the rail 40for longitudinal movement only relative thereto, and to the rail 58 forlongitudinal movement only relative thereto. The assembly of FIG.

2 is, extensible generally in the same way as is the structure of FIG.1; but, in its extended condition, the median region of its lengthincludes a'portion of at least one channel section wherebyresistanceto,vertical bending stresses is greatly improved.

In the form of invention illustrated in FIG. 4 greater stability isprovided by adding an additional guide-andslide assembly. Thus, I haveshown an assembly consisting of the channel member 40, the bar member 55and the antifriction series 45 and 46 establishing an operative slideassembly as illustrated in FIG. 2, but I have included a second, similarassembly consisting of achannel member 70, a bar member and two series72, 73 of antifriction elements retentively connecting the telescopedmembers for longitudinal; relative movement only, paralleling the firstnamed assembly and rigidly fixed thereto by a backplate 71 spanning andrigidly connected to the two channel sections and 70. A bridge plate 74spans and is rigidly connected to the two bars and 75, and the channelsection 47 of the second assembly of FIG. 2 is rigidly fixed to saidplate 74.

Thus, in this form of the invention, the intermediate element comprisesthebar 55, the bar 75, the plate 74 and the channel section 47; whilethe outer rail comprises the plate 71, the channel sections 40 and andthe inner rail comprises the bar 58.

FIG. 5 illustrates a still further reinforced slide structure includingthe assembly 40, 45, 46, 55 and the assembly 70, 72, 73, of FIG. 4 withthe members 40 and 70 fixedly joined by the backplate 71 and the barmembers 55 and 75 joined by the bridge plate 74. The channel members 47and are fixedly secured to the bar members 55 and 75 through the bridgepiece 74 to constitute the intermediate element of the assembly of FIG.5 and a bar member connected to the fourth channel member 80 through theantifriction series 82 and 83 is fixedly connected to the bar member 58by means of a bridge piece 84. Thus, in this form of the invention, theouter rail consists of the plate 71 and the two channel members 40 and70, the inner rail consists of the plate 84 and the bar members 58 and85, and the intermediate element comprises the bar members 55 and 75,the channel members 47 and 80 and the bridge plate 74.

In FIG. 6, l have shown still another embodiment of my invention inwhich the channel members and 97 are fixed to each other back to back toconstitute the intermediate element 104, while the outer rail consistsof the bar member 105 retentively secured to the channel member 90through the antifriction series and 96, while the inner rail consists ofthe bar member 108 retentively secured to the channel member 97 throughthe antifriction series 102 and 103. When this latter form of theinvention is used, it may be desirable to apply a relatively widebearing plate (not shown) to the outer surface of the bar member 105 orthe bar member 108 or both of them.

lclaim:

1. A slide structure comprising a first assembly including a firstchannel member defining parallel, inwardly opening trackways, a firstbar member defining parallel, outwardly opening trackways receivedbetween and mating respectively with said channel member trackways, anda series of antifriction elements received in each mating pair oftrackways and establishing a retentive connection between said membersfor longitudinal relative movement only, a second assembly including asecond channel member defining parallel, inwardly opening trackways, asecond bar member defining parallel, outwardly openingtrackways'received between and mating respectively with the trackways ofsaid second channel member, and a series of antifriction elementsreceived in each mating pair of said last-named trackways andestablishing a retentive connection between said second members forlongitudinal relative movement only, the channel member of one assemblybeing fixed relative to the bar member of the other assembly, and theother two members being longitudinally movable relative to each otherand to said relatively fixed members.

2. A slide structure comprising a first assembly including a firstchannel member defining parallel, inwardly opening trackways, a firstbar member defining parallel, outwardly opening trackways receivedbetween and mating respectively with said channel member trackways, anda series of antifriction elements received in each mating pairoftrackways and establishing a retentive connection between said membersfor longitudinal relative movement only, a second assembly including asecond channel member defining parallel, inwardly opening trackways, asecond bar member defining parallel, outwardly opening trackwaysreceived between and mating respectively with the trackways of saidsecond channel member, and a series of antifriction elements received ineach mating pair of said last-named trackways and establishing aretentive connection between said second members for longitudinalrelative movement only, one member of each assembly being fixed relativeto one member of the other assembly, at least one of said relativelyfixed members being a channel member, and the other two members beinglongitudinally movable relative to each other and to said relativelyfixed members in which the channel member of said second assembly isfixed to the channel member of said first assembly in direct,back-to-back relationship.

3. A slide structure comprising a first assembly including a firstchannel member defining parallel, inwardly opening trackways, a firstbar member defining parallel, outwardly opening trackways receivedbetween and mating respectively with said channel member trackways, anda series of antifriction elements received in each mating pair oftrackways and establishing a retentive connection between said membersfor longitudinal relative movement only, a second assembly including asecond channel member defining parallel, inwardly opening trackways, asecond bar member defining parallel, outwardly opening trackwaysreceived between and mating respectively with the trackways of saidsecond channel member, and a series of antifriction elements received ineach mating pair of last-named trackways and establishing a retentiveconnection between said second members for longitudinal relativemovement only, one member of each assembly being fixed relative to onemember of the other assembly, at least one of said relatively fixedmembers being a channel member, and the other two members beinglongitudinally movable relative to each other and to said relativelyfixed members, a third assembly comprising a third channel memberdefining parallel, inwardly opening trackways arranged in the planewhich is common to the trackways of the channel member of said firstassembly, a third bar member defining parallel outwardly openingtrackways received between and mating respectively with the trackways ofsaid third channel member, and a series of antifriction elementsreceived in each mating pair of the trackways of said third assembly,means rigidly connecting said third channel member with said firstchannel member, and means rigidly connecting said third bar member withsaid first bar member and with said second channel member.

4. A slide structure comprising a first assembly including a firstchannel member defining parallel, inwardly opening trackways, a firstbar member defining parallel, outwardly opening trackways receivedbetween and mating respectively with said channel member trackways, anda series of antifriction elements received in each mating pair oftrackways and establishing a retentive connection between said membersfor longitudinal relative movement only, a second assembly including asecond channel member defining parallel, inwardly opening trackways, asecond bar member defining parallel, outwardly opening trackwaysreceived between and mating respectively with the trackways of saidsecond channel member, and a series of antifriction elements received ineach mating pair of said last-named trackways and establishing aretentive connection between said second members for longitudinalrelative movement only, one member of each assembly being fixed relativeto one member of the other assembly, at least one of said relativelyfixed members being a channel member, and the other two members beinglongitudinally movable relative to each other and to said relativelyfixed members, a third assembly comprising a third channel memberdefining parallel, inwardly opening trackways arranged in the planewhich is common to the trackways of the channel member of said firstassembly, a third bar member defining parallel, outwardly openingtrackways received between and mating respectively with the trackways ofsaid third channel member, and a series of antifriction elementsreceived in each mating pair of the trackways of said third assembly, afourth assembly comprising a fourth channel member defining parallel,inwardly opening trackways arranged in the plane which is common to thetrackways of the channel member of the second assembly, a fourth barmember defining parallel, outwardly opening trackways received betweenand mating respectively with the trackways of said fourth channelmember, and a series of antifriction elements received in each matingpair of the trackways of said fourth assembly, means rigidly connectingsaid third channel member with said first channel member, means rigidlyconnecting said fourth bar member with said second bar member, and meansrigidly connecting said first bar member to said second channel member,to said third bar member and to said fourth channel member.

5. A slide structure comprising a first channel member, a first slidemember longitudinally telescopically slidably received in said channelmember, a second channel member and a second slide member longitudinallytelescopically slidably received in said second channel member, saidfirst slide member and said second channel member being fixedly securedtogether and the other two of said members being longitudinally movablerelative to each other and to said members which are fixedly securedtogether.

6. A drawer slide comprising an outer member adapted to be secured to aframe, an inner member adapted to be secured to a drawer, and anintermediate element longitudinally telescopically joined with both ofsaid members, each telescopic joinder including a male part and a femalepart and said intermediate'element embodying the male part of one suchjoinder and the female part of the other such joinder.

1. A slide structure comprising a first assembly including a firstchannel member defining parallel, inwardly opening trackways, a firstbar member defining parallel, outwardly opening trackways receivedbetween and mating respectively with said channel member trackways, anda series of antifriction elements received in each mating pair oftrackways and establishing a retentive connection between said membersfor longitudinal relative movement only, a second assembly including asecond channel member defining parallel, inwardly opening trackways, asecond bar member defining parallel, outwardly opening trackwaysreceived between and mating respectively with the trackways of saidsecond channel member, and a series of antifriction elements received ineach mating pair of said lastnamed trackways and establishing aretentive connection between said second members for longitudinalrelative movement only, the channel member of one assembly being fixedrelative to the bar member of the other assembly, and the other twomembers being longitudinally movable relative to each other and to saidrelatively fixed members.
 2. A slide structure comprising a firstassembly including a first channel member defining parallel, inwardlyopening trackways, a first bar member defining parallel, outwardlyopening trackways received between and mating respectively with saidchannel member trackways, and a series of antifriction elements receivedin each mating pair of trackways and establishing a retentive connectionbetween said members for longitudinal relative movement only, a secondassembly including a second channel member defining parallel, inwardlyopening trackways, a second bar member defining parallel, outwardlyopening trackways received between and mating respectively with thetrackways of said second channel member, and a series of antifrictionelements received in each mating pair of said last-named trackways andestablishing a retentive connection between said second members forlongitudinal relative movement only, one member of each assembly beingfixed relative to one member of the other assembly, at least one of saidrelatively fixed members being a channel member, and the other twomembers being longitudinally movable relative to each other and to saidrelatively fixed members in which the channel mEmber of said secondassembly is fixed to the channel member of said first assembly indirect, back-to-back relationship.
 3. A slide structure comprising afirst assembly including a first channel member defining parallel,inwardly opening trackways, a first bar member defining parallel,outwardly opening trackways received between and mating respectivelywith said channel member trackways, and a series of antifrictionelements received in each mating pair of trackways and establishing aretentive connection between said members for longitudinal relativemovement only, a second assembly including a second channel memberdefining parallel, inwardly opening trackways, a second bar memberdefining parallel, outwardly opening trackways received between andmating respectively with the trackways of said second channel member,and a series of antifriction elements received in each mating pair oflast-named trackways and establishing a retentive connection betweensaid second members for longitudinal relative movement only, one memberof each assembly being fixed relative to one member of the otherassembly, at least one of said relatively fixed members being a channelmember, and the other two members being longitudinally movable relativeto each other and to said relatively fixed members, a third assemblycomprising a third channel member defining parallel, inwardly openingtrackways arranged in the plane which is common to the trackways of thechannel member of said first assembly, a third bar member definingparallel outwardly opening trackways received between and matingrespectively with the trackways of said third channel member, and aseries of antifriction elements received in each mating pair of thetrackways of said third assembly, means rigidly connecting said thirdchannel member with said first channel member, and means rigidlyconnecting said third bar member with said first bar member and withsaid second channel member.
 4. A slide structure comprising a firstassembly including a first channel member defining parallel, inwardlyopening trackways, a first bar member defining parallel, outwardlyopening trackways received between and mating respectively with saidchannel member trackways, and a series of antifriction elements receivedin each mating pair of trackways and establishing a retentive connectionbetween said members for longitudinal relative movement only, a secondassembly including a second channel member defining parallel, inwardlyopening trackways, a second bar member defining parallel, outwardlyopening trackways received between and mating respectively with thetrackways of said second channel member, and a series of antifrictionelements received in each mating pair of said last-named trackways andestablishing a retentive connection between said second members forlongitudinal relative movement only, one member of each assembly beingfixed relative to one member of the other assembly, at least one of saidrelatively fixed members being a channel member, and the other twomembers being longitudinally movable relative to each other and to saidrelatively fixed members, a third assembly comprising a third channelmember defining parallel, inwardly opening trackways arranged in theplane which is common to the trackways of the channel member of saidfirst assembly, a third bar member defining parallel, outwardly openingtrackways received between and mating respectively with the trackways ofsaid third channel member, and a series of antifriction elementsreceived in each mating pair of the trackways of said third assembly, afourth assembly comprising a fourth channel member defining parallel,inwardly opening trackways arranged in the plane which is common to thetrackways of the channel member of the second assembly, a fourth barmember defining parallel, outwardly opening trackways received betweenand mating respectively with the trackways of said fourth channelmember, and a series of antifriction elements received in each matingpair of the tracKways of said fourth assembly, means rigidly connectingsaid third channel member with said first channel member, means rigidlyconnecting said fourth bar member with said second bar member, and meansrigidly connecting said first bar member to said second channel member,to said third bar member and to said fourth channel member.
 5. A slidestructure comprising a first channel member, a first slide memberlongitudinally telescopically slidably received in said channel member,a second channel member and a second slide member longitudinallytelescopically slidably received in said second channel member, saidfirst slide member and said second channel member being fixedly securedtogether and the other two of said members being longitudinally movablerelative to each other and to said members which are fixedly securedtogether.
 6. A drawer slide comprising an outer member adapted to besecured to a frame, an inner member adapted to be secured to a drawer,and an intermediate element longitudinally telescopically joined withboth of said members, each telescopic joinder including a male part anda female part and said intermediate element embodying the male part ofone such joinder and the female part of the other such joinder.